Automobile truck.



Patented July 3|, I900.

H. W. LIBBEY.

AUTOMOBILE TRUCK.

(Application filed. Oct. 18, i899.

m m w H 4 m V m w m5 lll1|1l 1 n i Paw E m (N0 Mode!)- WITNESSES &

ATTORNEY.

B Y at; M

"HIS PETERS CD PNOT Paterited July 3|, I900. H. .W. LIBBEY. A AUTOMOBILE TRUCK.

(Appl at on fil d O t 18 18991 (No Model.)

V INVENTOR. Jl ea 7},127 zZZeZ fi A &

ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES horizontal plane.

' its TATES PATENT owes.

IIOSEA W. LIBBEY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

. Antomoelre reuok.

SPECIFICATION swag pater Iletters Patent No. 54,742, dated-July e1, 1900. Application filed octoher s, 1599. an i o. 73s,'e94. (No mast) To all whom it mctycoiwerar, Be it known that I, HOSEA LIBBEY, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Bos ton, in the county of Suffolk and-Stateof; Massachusetts, have invented riewand use ful Improvements in Automobile Trucks, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to an automobile truck to be operated by the expanding force of compressed or liquefied air or gas contained in a reservoir or reservoirs carried by the truck. p

My invention consists in features of constructionand in novel combinations of parts inan automobile truck adapted to be propelled by the pressure of compressed or liquo fied air or gas discharged through suitable nozzles against the vanes of motor-wheels that are attached to the traction-wheels of the truck or similar vehicle, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a partly-sectionalside elevation of an automobile truck equip'ped with my improved propelling mechanism'for utilizing compressed or liquefied air'or gas as a motive force.

fied air or gas as. a motive force in an automobile. Fig. 4 is a section of said valve in a Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of an automatic nozzle. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section of one of the storage-reservoirs having a non-conducting covering, applicable also to all the pipes or passages for the expanding air or gas. Fig. 7 is an enlarged part-sectional detail view of the flexible pipe connections leading from the three-way valve. Fig.8 isan enlarged View Of the swinging pipe connections with the lateral outlets of the three-way valve. Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional View showing a swivel connection in the air-pipe system at the forward end of the truck. Fig.f10 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the steeringgear'an'd its connection with the forward axle.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates a truck-body for heavy transportation purposes. As shown, the said truck- Fig. 2 isaplan of the same I with portions of the truck broken away. Fig. I 3 is a section of a three-way valve for control-j, ling the application of compressed or lique body is mounted waist-ward aide 2and rear axle 3, having traction wheels' 4 on their ends. f In atruck for heavy work, as shown, it is preferable to provide each traction-wheelwith two attached motor-wheels 5, one'on the outer side and one on the inner side of each trac} .tion-wheel.

One motor-wheel on' each side of the truck, at its two ends, is provided for use in propelling the truck forward and the other motor-wheel of each set is for use in backing the truck.

Beneath the truck-bod y on the two 0pm;- site sides of the vehicle there'are suspendedtwo storage-reservoirs 6 for compressed or I liquefied air or gas to be employed in pro- .pellin the vehicle. Both these storage-reser- .voirs communicate through pipes 7, Fig. 2, with a reducing-valve 8, located intermediate said reservoirs. Above this reducing-valve and communicating directly therewith is a three-way valve 9, Figs. 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8, hav- .in g opposite laterally'egztended outlets and 11, thatare located above and parallel. with the pipes 7, through which the reducing-Valve 8 and storage-reservoirs 6 communicate. The

outlet. 10 of the three-way valve 9 communicates through a rearwardly-extended pipe 12 with a transversely-arranged pipe 13, Fig. 2,

,the outer ends .ofwhich 'are curved forward and downward and then partly in front of the rear traction-wheels and terminate in nozzles 14, that are inclined downward toward the vanes of the outwardly=placed motor-wheels on the rear traction-wheels of the vehicle, so

that blasts of air directed against these outwardly-placed motor-wheels through the nozzles that connect with the pipes 12 and 13 will propel the vehicle forward. The outlet 10 of the three-Way valve also connects with a forwardly-extended pipe 15 forconducting a pressure of expanding air or gas to operate 1 against the outwardly-placed motor-wheels at the front of the truck. This forwardly-extended pipe 15 discharges at firstinto the inner one of two concentric vertically-arranged pipes 16 and 17, that are extended through the fifth-wheel 18 above the forward axle. The vertically-arranged pipes 16 and 17 provide concentric passages for conducting expanding air or gas to the motor-wheelson the outer sides and inner sides, respectively, of

the forward truck-wheels for propelling-the vehicle forward or rearward, as required.

.By referring to Figs. 1 and 9 it will be ob.

served that the inner vertical pipe 16 is longer than the outer pipe 17 and is extended beyond the ends of the same, both above and below. The forward end of the pipe connects with the upper end portion of the inner concentric pipe 16, and the lower end of this inner pipe 16 communicates, as shown in Fig.

9, with laterally and forwardly extended pipes.

19, Figs. 1 and 2, that are curved around in force to be applied to all of the outwardlyplacedmotorwheels 5 in such direction as to propel the truck forward. The opposite threeway-valve outlet 11 connects with a rearwardly=extended pipe 20, which in turn 'connects with a laterally-extended pipe 21, Fig.

2-, the two ends of which are cnrved dow'n- I wardly and rearwardly and terminate in nozzles 14 for applying pressure to the vanes of the rearinwardly-placed motor-wheels in such direction as to assist in backing the truck.

This threeway-valve outlet 11 also connects witha forwardly extended pipe 22,; that discharges'intoihje upper end portion ofthe outer vertically-arranged pipe 17, located in i the fifth=wheel. The lower end' portion 'of this outer vertical pipe 17 communicates, as

shown in Fig. 9, with laterally and rear-1 wardly extended pipes 23, Figs. 1 and '2, the

outer end portions of which are curved down: wardl y and rearwardly and terminate in nozzle's 14 for applying pressure to the forward inwardly' placed motor-wheels in such direction as to assist the correspondingly-located rear motor-wheelsin backing the truck or,

propelling it rearward and also for braking purposes, as desired.

Thepipe's 12, 15, 20, and 22 maybe ea'ch provided with suitable sliding'or flexible connections'orcouplings in the form of packingboxes 24, Figs. 2 and 7, 'of any suitable charac'ter. Other suitable flexible connections may be provided elsewhere in wherever required. a

The reducing-valve 8 may he of, any suitableconstr'uction' and. is operated from/an oscillatory hand lever 25, located near the driversseat 26, through suitable connecting rods 27 27 and intermediate levers-28 on the shaft 29, asshown in Figs. 1' and 2. i

The three way valve 9 is operated from'ja yertically-arranged crank-shaft 30 through levfers31 32and connecting-rods 33, Figs. 1 and 2. The "connecting-rods 33 may 'be prosho'wn in Figs; 1 and 2.

the apparatusith couplings or turnbuckle-s [34, as,

A steering-gear is provided,which consists -of the fifth-wheel 18, having a worm-wheel 35 thereon meshing with a worm 36, Fig. 2, that connects by bevel gearing 37 with a shaft 38, Fig. 1, to which an operating handwheel 39 is attached.

It will be observed that all pipes for applying powerto the several motor-wheels for propelling the vehicle forward are connected with one-outlet-of the threeway valve, while allthe pipes for applying power to the other motor-wheels for backing the vehicle are connected with the other outlet of the three-way valve, By a proper setting of this three-way valve, therefore, power can be applied to the respective motor-wheels in proper direction for eitherpropelling the truckforward or for backing the same and for applying. braking power.

operated through independent lever connections. Braking power is to be applied to the proper motor-wheels by reversing the threeway valve, as will be readily understood. This three-way valve may, if desired, be set provided at its discharge end with a flapvalve 40, having an arm 41, thatconnects by a rod 42 with an arm 43 of a butterfly-valve ,44, located in the base portion of the nozzle. The flap-valve when'actednupon by the valve atthe rear. This flap-valve .40 is held open against the ordinary reac'tionof the jet from themotorvanes by means of a spiral spring 45, Fig. 5; but when the .re'sistan'ce increases on tnrning,the vehicle this flapvalve, and consequently. the conneo'ted'butterfly-valve,-will partiallyclose, thereby cutting down the air-supply, and consequently retarding the rotation of the adjacent motorwheel. 7

It is preferable to provide the storage-reservoirs and the several pipes and passages with a non-conducting covering,- which may consist-of an asbestos layer 46,- having arubher-coating 47 on the outside, as'showninFig. 6. By-means of this non-conducting covering all the receptacles and passages for .the expanding air may be protected against the warmth and dampness of the outside atmosphere.

connected with the 'pipes13an'd 2'1, res ectively, through oscillatory sleeve-couplings simi'lar'hin'ge orswijngj oint coupling 49, Figs.

turning corners. This automatic nozzle is- It will also be observed. that the re- -dncing-valve 8 and the three-way valve 9 are at an intermediate position, so as to shut off blast of air inrturn act'uate's. the butterfly- By refere'nce to Fig. 2 it will be seen, that v the pipes 12a'nd 20.may have their rear ends 48, similar .to a swing gas-.pipe hinge-joint. A

" 7 and 8, is preferably provided for flexibly Connecting the several pipes 12, 15, 20, and 22 with the lateral outlets 10 and 11, respectively, of the three-way valve. As before remarked, each of these pipes may be also provided with sliding stulfing-box connections or joints 24 intermediate the sectional parts of said pipes. These, arrangements or connections permit of great flexibility in the several pipes.

The concentric and vertically-arranged pipes 16 and 17 at the forward end of the truck are secured rigidly to the platform 50, Figs. 1 and 2, on which the forward springs of the vehicle are supported; To the lower end portions of these rigidly-supported and concentrically-arranged pipes 16 and 17 there is swiveled a head 51, Fig. 9, that is rigidly secured to the fifth-wheel 18, worm-wheel 35, and forward axle 2, so as to turn therewith in steering the vehicle. In Fig. 10 there is shown a bracket and clip connection 52, through which the connected fifth-wheel 18 and worm-wheel 35 are secured to the axle. The head 51, which is carried by the axle and fifth-wheel and which has a swiveling or rotatable connection with the concentric pipes 16 and 17, as shown in Fig. 9, is provided internally with passages 53, through which the nozzle-carrying pipes 19 communicate with the inner vertical pipe 16, and it also has passages 54, throughwhich the nozzle-carrying pipes 23 and the outer vertical pipe 17 communicate. Suitable packing 55, Fig. 9, is provided between the swiveled head 51 and the stationary vertically-arranged concentric pipes 16 and 17 to guard against leakage of expanding air or gas. As the head 51 is free to turn with the forward axle and at the same time supports the nozzle-pipes 19 23 and provides communication between said pipes and the vertical concentric pipes Iii-and 17, it is obvious that the operation of the pipe system is not disturbedby the steering of the vehicle nor by any of the ordinary movements of the truck.

What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In an automobile truck, the combination of motor-wheels attached to the tractionwheels and provided with vanes, a reservoir for compressed or liquefied air or gas, carried by said truck, a reducing-valve communicating with the storagereservoir, a three-way valve directly connected with said reducingvalve and provided with lateral outlets, pipe connections from one outlet of the three-way valve to the forward sides of the motor-wheels for propelling the vehicle forward, pipe connections from the other outlet of the threeway valve to the motor-wheels for backing the vehicle, and independent lever mechanism for actuating the reducing-valve and the three-way valve, substantially as described.

2. In an automobile truck, the combination of motor-wheels attached to the outer side and the inner side of all the traction-Wheels, reservoirs for compressed or liquefied air or gas,

carried by said truck, a reducing-valve interfrom one outlet of the three-way valve to points in front of some of the motor-wheels for propelling the truck forward, pipe connections from the other outlet of the threeway valve to the rear of othermotor-wheels for backing the truck, and steering mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In an automobile truck, the combination of motor-wheels attached to the outer sides and inner sides ofall the traction-wheels, storage-reservoirs for compressed or liquefied air or gas, carried by said truck, a reducing-valve intermediate the storage-reservoirs and connected therewith, lever mechanism for operating said reducing-valve, a three-way valve communicating with the red ucing-valve and provided with lateral outlets, lever mechanism for operating the threaway valve, and pipeconnections from the outlets of the threeway valve to positions adjacent to the motorwheel, and automatic nozzles through which pressure from said pipes is to be applied to the motor-wheels,substantially as described.

4. In an automobile truck, the combination of motor-wheels, providedwith vanes and attached to both sides of all the traction-wheels, storage-reservoirs for compressed or liquefied air or gas, carried by said truck, a reducingvalve intermediate said reservoirs and c0nnected therewith,a three-way valve connected with the reducing-valve and provided with lateral outlets, pipes extended forwardly and rearwardly from one of the outlets of the three-way valve to apply pressure to the forward portions ofsome of the motor-wheels for propelling the truck forwardly, pipes extended forwardly and rearwardly from the other outlet of the three-way' valve to apply pressure to rear portions of other motorwheels for propelling the truck rearwardly and for braking purposes, automatic valved nozzles connected with the several pipes, and located adjacent to the several motor-wheels, and steeringmechanism, substantially as described.

5. In an automobile truck, the combination of motor-wheels provided with vanes and at: tached to both sides of all the traction-Wheels, a storagereservoir for compressed or liquefied air or gas, a reducing-valve connected to said reservoir, a three-way valve connected with the reducing-valve and provided with lateral outlets, pipes extended forwardly and rear wardly from one of the outlets of the three- Way valve to apply pressure to the forward portions of some of the motor-wheels for pro.- pelling the truck forwardly, pipes extended forwardly and rearwardly from the other outlet of the three-way valve to apply pressure to the rear portions of other motor-Wheels for propelling the truck rearwardly and for braking purposes, concentric vertically-arranged pipes 'connectedwith said forwardlyextended pipes and rigidly supported at the forward end of the truck, a head supported on the forward axle and having a swivel eonnection with the lower portion of said concentric pipes,'and nozzle -'supporting pipes supported by said swivel-head and communieating through passages therein with sa d concentric pipes, substantially as described;

6. In an automobile'truck, the combination of motor-wheels attached to the outer sides andinner sides of all the traction-wheels, a storage-reservoir for compressed or liquefied air or gas, a reducing-valve connected to said reservoir,'a three-way valve communicating with said reducing-valve and provided with lateral outlets, forwardly and rearward-1y extended pipe connections leading from said outlets, a. fifth-wheel and steering-gear connected with the forward axle, concentric vertically-arranged pipes extended through the fifth 'wheel, a' swiveled head secured to the fifth-wheel and forward axle and adapted to turn on lower portions of said vertically-ar ranged concentricpi'pes and provided with internal passages, and nozzle-pipes carried by said head and communicating through its is I 634,74?

said passages with the concentric pipes, substantially as described. g

7. In an automobile truck, the combination with a three-way valve provided with lateral outlets, of forwardly and rearwardly extended 3 5 pipes connected with said valve-outlets by hinged joints, substantially as described.

8. In an automobile truck, the combination of motor,- wheels carried by the tractionwheels, astorage-reservoir for compressed air 40 or gas, a three-way valve in communication with said reservoir and provided with lateral outlets, pipes extended forwardly and rearwardly and having hinged connection with said outlets, a fifth-wheel and steering-gear, concentric vert-ically-arranged pipes extend= ed through the fifth-wheel and rigidly supportedby the truck, a head, provided with passages and having swivel connection with the lower ends of said pipes, and nozzle-pipes carried by said head and communicating through its passages with said concentric pipes, substantially as described. 7

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two'subscribing witnesses. v I I-IOSEA W. LIBBEY.

Witnesses: I

CHAS. STEERE, WINIFRED G. KERWIN. 

